Back to back Cruisin' with Peg Leg Mel & Eric the Rum Runner Oct 23-30,11 COMPLETED!!

[Disneygrl36]

After the show, we headed to have a pre-dinner drink in Pink. This is a beautiful very feminine bar that is designed to make you feel like you are in a champagne bottle with bubbles surrounding you.

Here's one of my funny boot/foot pictures.

The gorgeous bar!

I ordered a elderbubble champagne cocktail which was raspbery vodka, elderflower syrup & champagne =heaven in a glass & Eric had a glass of Fairy Tale Cuvee champagne.

Pink has a special Tattinger pink champagne made especially for it. I meant to try a glass but never did. A bottle in the shop was $91 so we didn't bring home a bottle either.

Then we headed to dinner at Royal Palace. This is a beautiful restaurant themed around the princesses.

It is very regal & the wait staff wears beautiful dark blue uniforms with gold accents. The menus look like a leather fairy tale book.

The bread is served in the cutest bread basket ever. This was delicous warm herb brioche served with an Olive Spread.

For the appetizer course, I had the Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp - white and green asparagus, micro greens, and lemon-dill dressing with horseradish cream.

I believe Eric had the duck.
For the soup & salad course, we both had the Belle's French Onion Soup with gruyere cheese crouton which was lovely & cheesy & the croutons weren't too soggy which is usually my complaint about french onion soup.

For entrees, we both had the Royal Palace Aged Angus Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Lobster Medallions - sauteed snow peas and marquis potatoes with a cognac reduction. Such a delicious piece of meat!

For dessert, I had the Grand Marnier Souffle infused with fresh orange zest and served with creme Anglaise. So fluffy, light & orangey. I also had a little snoot of B&B one of my favorite liquers to accompany my dessert while everyone else had coffee which I do not drink.

Eric had the peanut butter mousse but the wait staff also brought him a small chocolate cake & sang Happy Birthday to him! He started eating before I could take the picture.

We had another lovely dinner. As a group, we decided to head somewhere to chat. We went first to 687 but it was packed so we ended up in the District Lounge where we talked (about cheating on Sam Adams & various other topics) & got to know each other better, some adults beverages were consumed (except me I was a little tipsy from my B & B & just had a gingerale) & we listened to a band play a bit. The boys decided they needed a snack from the District snack bar before bed, so we stopped off there where they had high hopes to get a "little weiner before bed". Those were their words no kidding so much hilarity ensued about that comment.....they were wanting these little cocktail weiners wrapped in pastry, but alas there were none of those so they had to settle for something else. What a great night with our new friends.
When we got back the room, this swan was waiting for us to wish us good night.

Up next....Castaway Cay would it be our best day ever?

 

[Disneygrl36]

I agree I'd do what I can I say go for it

Do you guys think you'd do another cruise line? We will definitely do another disney some day but we have 5 booked with other lines and was going to send you the list to see if your interested?

Tom,
Thanks for the vote of confidence with my plan.
We would consider it of course, especially at the prices you guys were telling us about!

 

[tommycruiser]

Tom,
Thanks for the vote of confidence with my plan.
We would consider it of course, especially at the prices you guys were telling us about!

ok I'll send you a e-mail with them and the dates and what we are paying and our room type most are inside rooms

 

[Aburns8]

Boy! I am behind. Seeing your report is bringing back memories of our cruise! We ended up eating lunch at Enchanted Garden our first afternoon on the ship. I really liked the buffet. Dinner at Royal Palace wasn't my favorite. I usually like French onion soup and I wasn't a fan of that one. But I loved the bars. Skyline was awesome and Pink was fun! I didn't get to try any of the drink though. So I will have to go another cruise in the future to try the pink champagne. Villains Tonight was my favorite show out of all of them! Can't wait to read more!

 

[oybolshoi]

Hiya Mel! It was a pleasure meeting you on the cruise - can't wait to share all the delectable Remy details with you!

Enjoying your report so far!

 

[jenandjuice]

Loving the review so far, and I think totally try to do what you can with the half.

I trained for the food and wine one last year but didn't end up going (long story), I'd love to train again and do a disney half! Maybe the princess one

 

[Disneygrl36]

ok I'll send you a e-mail with them and the dates and what we are paying and our room type most are inside rooms

Ok sounds good! If the price is right & it works with our schedule how could we resist cruising with friends again?

Boy! I am behind. Seeing your report is bringing back memories of our cruise! We ended up eating lunch at Enchanted Garden our first afternoon on the ship. I really liked the buffet. Dinner at Royal Palace wasn't my favorite. I usually like French onion soup and I wasn't a fan of that one. But I loved the bars. Skyline was awesome and Pink was fun! I didn't get to try any of the drink though. So I will have to go another cruise in the future to try the pink champagne. Villains Tonight was my favorite show out of all of them! Can't wait to read more!

I loved the bar/lounge areas so much! They were just so cozy & intimate & didn't ever feel crowded! I loved Villians tonight too!

Hiya Mel! It was a pleasure meeting you on the cruise - can't wait to share all the delectable Remy details with you!
Enjoying your report so far!

Brenda! Glad you found my report. I have read several of your blog posts & can't wait to hear all about Remy! We need to meet up again in the disney realm some time!

Loving the review so far, and I think totally try to do what you can with the half.

I trained for the food and wine one last year but didn't end up going (long story), I'd love to train again and do a disney half! Maybe the princess one

Thanks! I think I am going to try to do what I can do for sure. I mean when you pay $150 for a race it is hard just to collect your t shirt & not even try. I think it will be fun to just see some of the entertainment along the route & if I can just make it to the castle I will be pleased.

 

[starchild_217]

We leave next Thursday on the Dream (honeymoon!) and your TR has gotten me even more excited. I can't wait to read what's next...

 

[Disneygrl36]

We leave next Thursday on the Dream (honeymoon!) and your TR has gotten me even more excited. I can't wait to read what's next...

How exciting to spend your honeymoon aboard the Dream! So glad I could add to your excitement.
Castaway Cay coming right up!

 

[Disneygrl36]

For those of you that don't know, Eric & I don't have the best track record with Castaway Cay. In 3 previous cruises, we have had 2 wet/rainy/cool days & missed it entirely on another cruise. So, when we booked back to back cruises this time, we knew we would be getting 2 shots at CC & hoped that at least one would be a nice day.

We both slept like logs, but I woke up about 6am & peeked out the window to see if we had docked at Castaway Cay yet (I think secretly I was afraid that we would not make it again). We were still in the open ocean, so I went back to bed. I felt the ship vibrating around 7ish so I knew we must be there. We hopped up like a couple of kids on Christmas morning & watched us pull in to the island.
See we still look half asleep.

Yeah we're here!

Welcome to paradise

We planned to have a drink here at least once.

New Pelican Plunge area

New Cabanas

The "disguised" cell phone tower

Eric ran up to Cabanas & got us a light breakfast. We were off the ship by around 8:40 & headed down the path with our final destination being Serenity Bay. I only took the small waterproof camera that I had bought on this day & man did it ever suck up the battery so I don't take as many pictures as usual.
Proof that we had made it..me with Mount Rustmore.

Ahhhhhhhhhh yes after Eric pushing me a long way in the wheelchair & then getting the tram we were finally at Serenity Bay!

Tom & Beth were already there & had snagged a nice spot that was not too far down the beach so we sat down & relaxed.

I wanted to get that boot off & get my toes in the water ASAP!

It looked a little overcast, but the weather was really beautiful & it wasn't too hot.

We enjoyed sitting around relaxing & chatting with Tom & Beth for most of the morning.

Loving being together on this beautiful island paradise.

After their snorkeling adventures, Missy & Trent joined us as well, so we had a great time laughing & talking. Soon all of our bellies were rumbling for lunch so we headed to lunch. I forgot to take a picture of my plate, but it was a meat fest. I had a tiny bit of salad & some fruit but the rest was meat! LOL. The steak was delicious-nicely seasoned & tender, the fish was tasty, the chicken was tender & I loved those ribs! Ahhhhh, what a great meal.
I did take a picture of the ship from the lunch area.

We decided that now that we had full bellies, we would get a drink from the air bar.

I had a Conch Cooler & Eric had a Shin Splint (which everyone thought was the more appropriate drink for all of us with my condition--LOL).

Beautiful Serenity Bay from the bar.

When we got back to our spots after lunch, the tide was way out. Missy & Trent went to snorkel some more & the rest of us chillaxed some more. A sand bar was way out there & people were out there on it so we decided we were going to make our way to it. It felt so good to be in the water with that boot off!
The view back at the beach as we made our way out to the sand bar. We went alot further out than this.

You can see where we were headed here. Tom was way faster than the rest of us & he was already out there while Beth & Eric walked along with gimpy me.

We saw this beautiful big star fish.

Eric & Tom at the Sand Bar. We all joked that there needed to be a pop up bar out there with stools where you could have a drink.

Sand dollars were quite plentiful as well. We saw a lady picking them up by the handfulls. I wonder if she took them home...you aren't supposed to do that but I guess she didn't care.

We had a great time out there & the water felt marvelous. We were having a dream day on CC! We headed back to our chairs & spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the beauty of the island & our new friendships.

I know we had another round of Shin Splints too!

We talked about what we would do once we got back to the ship & had decided we would meet up at Beth & Tom's room around 5 & then maybe go do Midship Detective Agency together. So, with a plan, we all headed back towards the ship stopping off to browse the shops along the way. We didn't buy anything this time, as the shops on the ship hadn't really been open yet & I wanted to look there & the island to decide what I wanted to buy.

Up next.....A date with the Captain & Our own private bar!

 

[Disneygrl36]

So, after we all went back to our rooms & cleaned up a little. We met up in Tom & Beth's room which had an awesome deep verandah & we watched us sail away from Castaway Cay from there. I filmed the sail away but we were all chatting throughout so I won't post that here.
Bye Castaway Cay!

I had looked at the Navigator & seen that Captain Jack Sparrow was doing photos at 5:45 in front of the theater, so our plan to do the Midship Detective Agency got replaced by a date with Capn Jack. So Trent & Tom hung out Bon Voyage, Missy went gathering her character photos because she had already seen Capn Jack that morning on the island & Eric, Beth & I went to wait for Capn Jack.
I think here he was saying "Hello Luv."

Me with my favorite pirate.

He was so cute about my shirt. He read it through & then looked at me & said there is something very wrong about that & it's not just the bounty being offered......there's something missing there.....it should say CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow. Got to love it.....by the way the shirt reads: Wanted Jack Sparrow Dead or Alive This Man is a Trickster and a Scoundrel! Approach with caution, he'll rob ye blinde! Reward L7,000.
Mission accomplished, we decided to head up to the Outlook Bar which is the highest point of the ship on Deck 14 to watch the sunset. Now Eric & I had tried to get there the first night unsuccessfully & had to ask...there is only one midship elevator that will take you there so it doesn't get alot of visitors.

We walked in & it was just the 6 of us until guess who else showed up (& it was not planned)? Our other 2 table mates! So it was Table 51's private bar!

Drinks.....a caiprianha for me & vodka & tonic for Eric.

Having fun in the Outlook.

The sunset wasn't spectacular because of clouds but the company was!

Our waiter Chris had asked us each night what he could do to make his service better & we joked each night free martinis. But sitting in Outlook, we all decided he should serve Table 51 our own private dinner the next night up there!!!!!
So then, it was time to see Captain Mickey's Pirate Party on deck. It was super windy & crowded up there but we got a good spot on the railing on Deck 12.

Loved the look of the Aquaduck at night!

Cute feathered pirates

More cute pirates

Loved this screen shot of Mr Smee with the crew tied up.

Captain Hook was of course trying to take things over.

Loved the skeleton narrator...

We really enjoyed the show. Here's a little video...don't mind the singing. :rollseyes:

Up next......Dinner for pirates, fireworks & more Capn Jack

 

[Jennifer48]

Yowza lots of updates! You are cookin' girl!

Happy Birthday Eric!

With the design of Enchanted Garden and Royal Palace, seems that either restaurant would be suitable for formal night, would you agree? I hated having formal night in Parrot Cay, just didn't fit!

I love scrambled eggs and DCL, and even WDW, seem to always have runny eggs.

Goofy in his jammies, adorable!

Love the art!

Sorry you had to cancel your dolphin encounter but it sounds like you had a nice, relaxing day lounging around!

Was the mixology class extra? Looks like fun!

Villains Tonight looks great!

Pink looks too girly to me, is it? The champagne does sound wonderful though!

"little weiner before bed"

Hiya Mel! It was a pleasure meeting you on the cruise - can't wait to share all the delectable Remy details with you!

Enjoying your report so far!

HI BRENDA! I miss seeing you post on the boards! Will you be doing a dining review TR?

So glad to hear you had a great day at Castaway Cay!!

Where did you get your Jack Sparrow tee? Very cool!

Outlook bar = very cool!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Yowza lots of updates! You are cookin' girl!

Happy Birthday Eric!

With the design of Enchanted Garden and Royal Palace, seems that either restaurant would be suitable for formal night, would you agree? I hated having formal night in Parrot Cay, just didn't fit!

I love scrambled eggs and DCL, and even WDW, seem to always have runny eggs.

Goofy in his jammies, adorable!

Love the art!

Sorry you had to cancel your dolphin encounter but it sounds like you had a nice, relaxing day lounging around!

Was the mixology class extra? Looks like fun!

Villains Tonight looks great!

Pink looks too girly to me, is it? The champagne does sound wonderful though!

"little weiner before bed"

HI BRENDA! I miss seeing you post on the boards! Will you be doing a dining review TR?

So glad to hear you had a great day at Castaway Cay!!

Where did you get your Jack Sparrow tee? Very cool!

Outlook bar = very cool!

Yes not being able to work means I can crank these out pretty fast.
I agree that formal night would work either place.
The tastings/mixology were $15 per person & lots of fun.
Pink is pretty girly. We meant to get back but really only went back there to meet up for our wine tasting.
Those boys were on a roll with the funny comments that night for sure.
Brenda has a great blog Jenn!
I think I got that t on ebay.

Next installment coming right up........I had to leave earlier so I didn't get to finish the day up.

 

[Disneygrl36]

We headed to our Pirate Night Dinner at Animators Palate.

Looked like there be pirates in our future

The best table ever!

View from the table

Tonights theme on the screens was all things pirate.

Loved the butter knife, plates & bread basket in here...I need all of it!

Menu for the night.

Our scurvy pirate waiter Chris.

Cute PIXAR details in the restaurant.

There were several other Jamaican waiters that for some reason told me one night that Chris was not from Jamaica but Haiti & they teased him about it the rest of the time.

Chris made us a deal on pirate blinky glasses for our tea!

For an appetizer, I had the Black Beard's Jumbo Crab Cake - with golden raisin-carrot and coconut slaw served with a spicy Calypso dressing.

Eric had the Pirates Golden "Pot Stickers" - oriental pork "dumplings" deep fried and served with a tamarind-ginger soy sauce and pickled vegetables.

Both were very good.
Our head server Ali came around to check on us & I wanted a picture with his cute pirate hat.

For salads we both had Mr. Smee's Bibb Lettuce Salad - with bibb lettuce, baby greens, chicory, tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and raspberry vinaigrette.

For entrees, I had the Castaway Chicken Breast - rubbed with Pirate Island Spice, rice and beans, and fried okra on rich spiced glaze.

This was yummy in my tummy.
Eric had the Treasures of the Seas Grilled Shrimp and Seared Scallops - served on strings of pasta and fresh creamy tomato sauce which I forgot to take a picture of.
More pirate theming.....the screens changed all night long with pirate themed concept art.

Dessert was really not so great this night to me. I had the Sweet Temptations - a trio of fruit cobbler, floating island and chocolate cake. The meringue was too dry, the cake was dry & the cobbler was served cold.

Eric had the Rum Soaked Chocolate Cake - with raspberry glaze and whipped cream. He said it was ok. His comment was that none of the chocolate desserts were chocolatey enough for him.

Cont in next post because of photo limitations.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Table 51 Rocked!!!!!!!!! Our servers Chris & Michal were the best too!

We said goodbye to Animators Palate for the night.

We headed up to Deck 12 to watch the fireworks.

It was super windy up there at the back of the ship.

But our little group hung out & chatted til the fireworks began. There were also several ships off in the distance but still close enough to see our fireworks.

We wanted to go see the Captain Jack part of the show after the fireworks, but had to wait a bit to be able to move forward on the deck. When we came up next to the funnel, there he was waiting to make his grand entrance.

So we followed him down the deck.

We couldn't really see that well & after he made his exit, so did we!

Time for all pirates who had been out in the sun having fun at CC all day & drinking rum to head to bed!

Up next.....Brunch with buddies & sipping on fine wine.

 

[TwinsFan]

Melanie, You got a couple good pictures of our whole table! Such a fun group Since this was our first Disney cruise the rotational dining was new to us. I think we lucked into the best rotation. Having our Pirate Dinner in Animators Palate was great because of the changing pirate art on the screens, it made the dining room seem different each night, that probably doesn't happen when you eat in RP or EG twice.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Melanie, You got a couple good pictures of our whole table! Such a fun group Since this was our first Disney cruise the rotational dining was new to us. I think we lucked into the best rotation. Having our Pirate Dinner in Animators Palate was great because of the changing pirate art on the screens, it made the dining room seem different each night, that probably doesn't happen when you eat in RP or EG twice.

I did get some good group shots. Once I am finished with my trip report I will be uploading all my photos to Snapfish to work on a photo book & I will share then for sure....I might be able to share from photobucket since I've already uploaded there!
You are so right about Pirates night in AP that was the best!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Loving your report!! THe pctures are great. On my one Disney cruise...I never made it to Serenity Bay...so beautiful...will try on our Fantasy cruise. Were there alot of college student at Serenity Bay. Morgan and Christie will be with us and they will be 18...they want to go adult not to Vibe and they have that choice as they will be 18 yet I dont want them bored or to have to stay with us the whole time.

The clubs look great and I am not into the bar scene but do like music, dancing and fun!!

Cant wait for more!! Did you eat in Palo and Remy?

 

[oybolshoi]

Here's a Remy teaser for you, Melanie ...

there were fireworks Tuesday night???



Love all your pictures!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Loving your report!! THe pctures are great. On my one Disney cruise...I never made it to Serenity Bay...so beautiful...will try on our Fantasy cruise. Were there alot of college student at Serenity Bay. Morgan and Christie will be with us and they will be 18...they want to go adult not to Vibe and they have that choice as they will be 18 yet I dont want them bored or to have to stay with us the whole time.

The clubs look great and I am not into the bar scene but do like music, dancing and fun!!

Cant wait for more!! Did you eat in Palo and Remy?

I did not really pay attention on Serenity Bay to who was there. I just know it was quiet & peaceful. I saw several younger couples but can't say I remember alot of older teens hanging out. They might prefer the teen beach.
We had brunch & dinner at Palo. No Remy this time, but if we cruise the Dream or Fantasy again, I really want to try it.

Here's a Remy teaser for you, Melanie ...

there were fireworks Tuesday night???



Love all your pictures!

We did pirate night a whole different way the next cruise. No craziness for us that time.